Saving LIves at sea
Waihi Beach Coastguard is a volunteer-operated marine search and rescue unit based at Bowentown, Waihi Beach. Established in 1990 by a group of dedicated locals following the tragic loss of a fisherman on the Bowentown Bar, the unit was created in response to the increasing popularity of boating in the area and the hazardous, unpredictable waterway leading to the open sea.
Over the past three decades, the growth of Waihi Beach Coastguard has been driven by continuous fundraising efforts, which remain vital to its operations today. The unit currently operates three rescue vessels—Gallagher Rescue, AVOCO Rescue, and Mike Hall Rescue—staffed by trained volunteers who are on call 24/7.
The unit's headquarters, located at 511 Seaforth Road, is staffed daily from 8 am to 4 pm by radio operators, who primarily manage Trip Reports from local boaties on marine VHF channel 07.
Waihi Beach Coastguard provides essential search and rescue services across a 2,500 square kilometer area, extending from Whangamata in the north to Tauranga in the south, and eastwards past Mayor Island.
As a non-government-funded organization, Waihi Beach Coastguard relies on the generous support of corporate partners, including Gallagher Group and AVOCO, as well as over 600 financial members, regional councils, community trusts, and voluntary donations to sustain its operations and ensure the availability of critical resources.
the history of the waihi beach coastguard
Waihi Beach Volunteer Coastguard was incorporated in May 1990. Initially, it provided a radio service from the basement of the Bowentown Boating Club and had acquired its first vessel, a six-metre Shark Cat named Waipaopao.
In September 1993, work began on the construction of our headquarters building, in Seaforth Road, Bowentown.
The building, constructed in stages, was officially opened by Lillian Valder in November 1996. It serves multiple purposes, housing all of our vessels and equipment, providing a dedicated radio room for operators, and offering meeting and training spaces, along with the essential amenities.
In January 1999, Waipaopao was retired after reaching the end of its service life and was replaced by Search One, an 8.5-metre Rayglass Protector rigid hull inflatable.
In July 2003, a second vessel, Search Two, a jet-powered craft, was launched for operations in the shallower waters at the northern end of Tauranga Harbour.
In 2012, Search One was replaced with a 9.5-metre Naiad, powered by twin 250hp Yamaha four-stroke outboards. Named Gallagher Rescue in honor of one of our corporate sponsors, the new vessel represents a significant enhancement in both operational performance and crew comfort. The build process for this boat is featured at the bottom of the page.
In 2016, a 70-square-metre extension was added to our building to accommodate the new vessel that would replace the ageing Search Two.
AVOCO Rescue was officially launched in 2017 and is named in recognition of our second corporate sponsor. This 5.8-metre rigid hull inflatable is powered by twin 115hp Yamaha outboards, making it fast and capable of reaching areas that other vessels cannot access. The build process for this boat is showcased at the bottom of the page.
In 2019, we were able to purchase a jet ski for fast response operations, thanks to a generous donation from the late Bob and Judy Hall. In memory of their son, the jet ski was named Mike Hall Rescue.
Gallagher Rescue, AVOCO Rescue and Mike Hall Rescue in front of our building in 2020.
